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Record of Proceedings

Leesburg Planning Commission Meeting - September 17, 2026

Town Council & Commissions — Thursday, September 17, 2026
BodyLeesburg, Virginia
SessionTown Council & Commissions
DateThursday, September 17, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:11:18

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:37

I call to order this September 17th, 2026 meeting of the Leesburg Planning Commission.

0:41

Please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:45

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

0:52

One of the individual liberty and justice role.

1:00

All right, let the record reflect that we do have a physical quorum.

1:03

We do have two members out due to medical.

1:07

We don't have a motion.

1:09

Okay.

1:10

We only have one out for medical.

1:12

Uh and since he is not joining, we do not need to confirm we don't need a pull down.

1:21

So at this time we do not need a motion for remote.

1:25

Okay.

1:26

All right.

1:26

Uh do I hear a motion to adopt the agenda as submitted?

1:30

So moved.

1:31

Second.

1:32

Okay.

1:33

Any questions?

1:34

All right.

1:35

All those in favor?

1:36

Aye.

1:37

All right.

1:38

So 601.

1:40

On do I hear a motion to approve the minutes of the September 3rd, 2026 meeting.

1:45

So moved.

1:46

Second.

1:46

All right.

1:47

Any changes, alterations, questions?

1:50

All in favor?

1:51

Aye.

1:52

Aye.

1:53

And one abstain.

1:54

So 601.

1:58

All right.

1:59

Uh any disclosures?

2:00

I'll start on my left.

2:01

Yes, sir.

2:02

No, sir.

2:04

You don't talk to anyone.

2:07

Okay.

2:08

Uh, no chair statement.

2:09

Do we happen to have any petitioners signed up for today?

2:12

No petitioners signed up.

2:13

Okay, then I will forego the petitioner section.

2:16

Uh, and we will go ahead and move directly into our public hearing.

2:20

I call to order the September 17th, 2025.

2:24

That's a little bit off.

2:26

2026 public hearing of Leesburg Planning Commission that is T L R E Z N 2026-3002 and TLSPEX 2026-3001 Loudoun Islamic Center.

2:39

All members of the public are welcome to address the commission on this application.

2:43

Persons wishing to address the commission should sign up at the podium.

2:47

Once recognized by the chair, individuals should have should advance to the podium and state his or her name and address.

2:53

Persons should also indicate whether they are representing a group other than themselves.

2:57

Uh after the presentation or comments, please be seated unless the chair or members of the commission have questions of the petitioner or speaker.

3:06

Statements which are demeaning or defamatory to members of the public, staff, or the commission are inappropriate and out of order.

3:12

In the interest of fairness, we also ask that you observe the three-minute time limit.

3:15

You will heal hear a bell at the end of three minutes at that time.

3:20

We would appreciate your summing up and yielding the floor when the bell indicates your time is expired.

3:25

However, if you are representing a group, please indicate so and we will consider uh allowing up to five minutes to speak.

3:32

The procedure for the public hearing is as follows.

3:34

First, staff will present their report.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning Ordinances███████████████████████████████31%
Procedural███████████████████19%
Parking███████████████15%
Community Engagement██████████████14%
Public Engagement██████6%
Public Safety█████5%
Contract Negotiation████4%
Transportation Safety███3%
Affordable Housing██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Leesburg Planning Commission Meeting - September 17, 2026

The Leesburg Planning Commission held a public hearing on September 17, 2026, to consider a rezoning and special exception application for the Loudoun Islamic Center at 1509 Dodona Terrace SE, Suite 110. After a tied vote on both approval and denial motions, the commission voted 4-0 to continue both applications to a future work session when all seven commissioners can be present. Other business included a staff report on changes to school proffer policies and a preview of the next work session on affordable housing legislation.

Consent Calendar

  • Adoption of Agenda: Unanimously approved as submitted.
  • Approval of Minutes: Minutes of the September 3, 2026 meeting were approved with a vote of 6-0-1 (one abstention).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Farzana Faye (1416 Ribbon Limestone): Expressed concern about the Islamic center, requesting more information about its financial support and purpose beyond religion.
  • Paradise Sorabi (same address): Stated discomfort living near an Islamic center as an ex-Muslim from Iran, described receiving strange looks when walking past, and reiterated requests for financial information. Both speakers opposed the application.

Discussion Items

  • Loudoun Islamic Center – Rezoning (TLREZN2026-0002) and Special Exception (TLSPEX2026-0001):
    • Staff (Scott Parker, Senior Planning Project Manager) presented the requests: an amendment to proffers for the Village at Leesburg to allow a 1,555 sq. ft. place of worship by special exception, and the special exception itself for the Loudoun Islamic Center. The use would be limited to three sessions on Fridays from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., with a maximum of 75 worshippers per session. Parking would be directed to adjacent Parking Garage D, which staff described as having ample capacity. No exterior alterations except a secondary egress door. Staff recommended approval, finding the applications met zoning criteria.
    • The applicant (representative of the Islamic Center) agreed with staff’s presentation and had no additional comments.
    • Commissioner questions focused on:
      • Noise: Staff noted no violations from prior complaints; noise issues would be handled complaint-driven.
      • Parking and traffic: Concerns raised about Dodona Terrace’s narrow street and parallel parking, with the applicant stating congregants already park in the garage. A condition encourages using western entrances to avoid Village Market Boulevard congestion. Some commissioners felt parking was adequate; others worried about cumulative impacts during session transitions.
      • Precedent: Some commissioners feared scope creep if future similar requests were granted.
      • Occupancy and fire code: The 75-person cap is based on occupancy and fire safety.
      • Nearby residential: Closest residences are across Village Market Boulevard (~250-300 ft away) in a different zoning district.
    • A motion to approve the rezoning failed 3-3 (Commissioners Barnes, Tuck, Robinson? need to check transcript: The vote was 3-3, with four voting aye? Actually transcript says

Meeting Transcript

I call to order this September 17th, 2026 meeting of the Leesburg Planning Commission. Please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. One of the individual liberty and justice role. All right, let the record reflect that we do have a physical quorum. We do have two members out due to medical. We don't have a motion. Okay. We only have one out for medical. Uh and since he is not joining, we do not need to confirm we don't need a pull down. So at this time we do not need a motion for remote. Okay. All right. Uh do I hear a motion to adopt the agenda as submitted? So moved. Second. Okay. Any questions? All right. All those in favor? Aye. All right. So 601. On do I hear a motion to approve the minutes of the September 3rd, 2026 meeting. So moved. Second. All right. Any changes, alterations, questions? All in favor? Aye. Aye. And one abstain. So 601. All right. Uh any disclosures? I'll start on my left. Yes, sir. No, sir. You don't talk to anyone. Okay. Uh, no chair statement. Do we happen to have any petitioners signed up for today? No petitioners signed up. Okay, then I will forego the petitioner section. Uh, and we will go ahead and move directly into our public hearing. I call to order the September 17th, 2025. That's a little bit off. 2026 public hearing of Leesburg Planning Commission that is T L R E Z N 2026-3002 and TLSPEX 2026-3001 Loudoun Islamic Center. All members of the public are welcome to address the commission on this application. Persons wishing to address the commission should sign up at the podium.

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